Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 371 Whenever danger strikes, Consultant Chen comes to the rescue on time.
The smoke and dust inside the cave slowly settled, returning to silence, leaving only the sound of slightly rapid breathing and the faint sound of water droplets in the distance.

Stone was panting heavily, his legs still feeling weak from the feeling of surviving the ordeal.

He and the equally exhausted Silver Armored Mantis supported each other as they staggered to Chen Yuan's side.

Stone's face was a mixture of gratitude, lingering fear, and immense shock. He tried to calm his breathing and was about to express his gratitude solemnly when his gaze inadvertently swept over the small bird with wings that shimmered with a faint golden-red luster on Chen Yuan's shoulder, and the elegant and noble Morning and Evening Flower Fairy, who curiously peeked half her body out of the latter's shirt pocket.

Stone froze on the spot, then his eyes widened as if a thunderbolt had suddenly pierced the fog in his mind.

"You...you're Consultant Chen?!"

Stone's voice was distorted by extreme shock and excitement, and the dust and sweat on his face could not conceal the burst of joy and disbelief that erupted in that instant.

Chen Yuan looked at the boy's appearance, smiled gently, and nodded slightly: "It's me. Are you alright?"

Upon receiving confirmation, Shi Tou's heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of his throat. He never expected to encounter the renowned Consultant Chen here.

Although he didn't know what Consultant Chen looked like, the beasts around this beast tamer were all extraordinary. Moreover, the Blazing Sky Falcon and the Morning and Evening Flower Fairy were highly recognizable. In addition, being in the Qinling Mountains at the moment, he quickly came to this bold guess.

But Stone quickly looked around, and apart from the Blazing Sky Falcon, the Morning and Evening Flower Fairy, and a Youmi, he did not see the legendary majestic Wind-Riding Dog.

His gaze returned to the Steelheaded Gopher, who had effortlessly killed the Armored Rhinoceros with a single blow, and an inexplicable thought uncontrollably popped into his head:

Is this steel-headed gopher even more powerful than the wind-riding dog?

So, Consultant Chen chose to abandon Wind Rider and instead contract Steel Headed Gopher?

No, no, Consultant Chen isn't that kind of person.

Could it be that Consultant Chen has already become a Morning Star Beast Tamer?
With a jumble of thoughts swirling in his mind, Shi Tou scratched his head, his curiosity mixed with a hint of trepidation, and asked directly, "Consultant Chen, where is your Wind-Riding Hound? Is this Steel-Headed Groundhog your newly contracted pet?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan couldn't help but smile and explained, "Cola stays on the farm to guard it, while this steel-headed gopher is part of the farm, well, you can understand it as working on the farm."

"Working on a farm?" Stone frowned, his rugged face full of doubt.

Chen Yuan smiled slightly and explained simply, "It's the same principle as human work; pets can also earn rewards through their own labor."

"For example, Runrun Duck can help water the plants, Wood Spirit Mouse can clean up, and Electric Flying Cat can generate electricity during power outages."

As if to confirm Chen Yuan's words, Tie Touwa slowly turned to face the stone, his eyes calm, and emitted a deep but clear buzzing sound: "Crack."

I am in charge of guarding the gate.

"Guarding the gate?!" Stone gasped instantly, his worldview being violently impacted like never before.

The pet beast that can kill the Armored Rhinoceros with a single blow is actually responsible for guarding the gate. What kind of monsters are in Consultant Chen's farm?

But Stone quickly recalled the various rumors about Consultant Chen, and the shock on his face quickly subsided.

His eyes suddenly caught sight of the Armored Rhinoceros lying unconscious on the ground. His expression tightened as he suddenly remembered the important matter at hand.

He then turned to look at Chen Yuan, his voice filled with anxiety and earnestness:

"Consultant Chen, thank you so much for saving me and the Silver Mantis, but there's another Steel-Armored Tyrannosaurus in the cave. It went after my master and senior sister, and they must be in great danger. Can you...can you help them?"

Chen Yuan was slightly surprised, not expecting that a pair of armored rhinoceroses would live in this cave.

But then I thought about it again. After all, the Steel Armored Rhinoceros is only of the Commander quality and is not powerful enough to be invincible. Even a Tier 3 Steel Armored Rhinoceros is not enough to protect a bunch of steel-type resources and will inevitably attract the covetousness of other pets.

However, if two Tier 3 Steel Armored Rhinoceroses were to join forces, the vast majority of wild pets would be unable to withstand them.

A thought flashed through his mind, and without the slightest hesitation, he immediately nodded: "Lead the way."

Shi Tou was overjoyed, as if he had found his pillar of support, and quickly pointed in the direction they had come from: "This way, Consultant Chen, please follow me!"

So, led by the stone, Chen Yuan and the little ones ventured deeper into the cave once again.

Perhaps because Consultant Chen was by his side, Shi Tou was not nervous even when facing the dark and deep cave. He secretly glanced at Chen Yuan who was following beside him and felt that everything in front of him was too surprising.

As he carefully led the way, he couldn't help but excitedly chatter on: "Consultant Chen, I'm actually a fan of yours. My mentor and senior sister often tell me about you."

His eyes shone with pure admiration: "The champion of the Great Wind Cup! The number one in Qin Province! My master said you are the beast tamer he admires the most."

Chen Yuan smiled and said nothing.

Unexpectedly, he encountered a little fan in this remote cave. Unbeknownst to him, his popularity had swelled to an unimaginable level.

His thoughts flashed by, and Chen Yuan turned his head to look at the beaming Shi Tou, casually asking, "Master and Senior Sister? Which academy are you from?"

Stone shook his head and replied nonchalantly, "No, we are bounty hunters."

After saying this, Shi Tou straightened his chest slightly, raised his head, and his face showed pride and self-satisfaction.

"Bounty hunter." Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

As far as he knew, bounty hunters did indeed practice an apprenticeship system, such as Huo Hong and Amei, whom he knew.

This master-apprentice relationship is much closer than a normal cooperative relationship, enabling them to better complete various complex bounty missions and avoid some unnecessary disputes.

"Consultant Chen, speaking of which, my master and senior sister know you."

Stone's words abruptly pulled Chen Yuan back from his wandering thoughts. He raised an eyebrow and then asked in return, "Is your master Huo Hong?"

“Yes!” Shi Tou didn’t expect Consultant Chen to mention his master’s name directly. He raised his head and spoke with pride, “My master said that he had received your help and had even participated in the Big Wind Cup with you.”

Chen Yuan suddenly realized, and the images of Huo Hong, whom he had met several times, and the seemingly quiet but actually enormously hungry girl came to mind. He couldn't help but smile and said, "So it's Huo Hong and Amei. What a coincidence."

After a brief pause, he looked at the excited-looking stone and asked the question that had been bothering him: "You've also come for the steel resources in the cave?"

Faced with Consultant Chen's question, Shi Tou nodded repeatedly and answered without reservation: "Yes, yes, we need to find a level 3 steel resource."

"My master said the reward for this mission is very generous. If we succeed, he will take my senior sister and me to the city for a big meal."

Chen Yuan quietly sized up Shi Tou's figure; he was tall and robust, so he figured his appetite wouldn't be any smaller than A Mei's.

From this perspective, Huo Hong's pressure is considerable.

Not only do they have to raise and train their own pets, but they also have to feed two big eaters and several other pets. The daily expenses are estimated to be staggering.

Fortunately, Huo Hong had already made a great name for himself during the Great Wind Cup and was quite experienced in the field of bounty hunters in Qin Province, so he had an endless stream of bounty missions to take on.

The pressure was a bit much, but with his abilities, it wasn't a problem at all.

During the conversation, there were still some wild pets that were startled or tried to stop them from leaping out of the shadows.

However, without Chen Yuan giving any orders, Tie Touwa, who was walking at the front, was like the most reliable steel guard. Whether it was a ferocious beast that suddenly appeared or a mysterious shadow that pounced down from above, it could always detect it immediately and then—raise its blade and slash!

The movements are simple, efficient, and precise.

Each flash of cold light was accompanied by a muffled thud or a sharp screech, and the attacker was instantly rendered unable to fight or forced back by the fierce energy.

The entire process was fluid and graceful, even possessing a mechanical precision and beauty, revealing an overwhelming and decisive force.

Stone was always deeply moved by what he saw. He gazed at Steelhead Mole's aloof back for a long time and couldn't help but ask:

"Advisor Chen, did you bring the Steel-Headed Gopher out here in preparation for it to participate in the Eastern Glory Conference? Is that why you specifically brought it to a place like this to train it?"

In his mind, such a powerful pet must be the trump card that Advisor Chen was hiding.

The silver-armored mantis shared the same thought, its sharp gaze fixed on the iron-headed boy from beginning to end, its scythe-like blades waving silently, its mind already filled with awe.

"Coo-choo~"

Yumi keenly sensed the Silver Mantis's emotional fluctuations. Its cunning eyes darted around, and it chuckled softly, then composed itself and flew seriously to the Silver Mantis's side. Its gently swaying demonic antennae exuded a highly seductive meaning: "Goo-choo?"

Do you want to become stronger?

Do you want to become as strong as it?
Youmi pointed at Ironhead, and Silver Mantis was taken aback at first, then nodded emphatically.

Both being Steel-type Pokémon, why was it relentlessly chased by the Steel-Armored Rhinoceros, while the Steel-Headed Excadrill easily defeated it? It was in awe of the Steel-Headed Excadrill's terrifying strength, yet longed to become just as powerful.

"Coo-choo~"

Seeing the Silver Mantis's reaction, Yumi chuckled to herself, then slightly raised her head, her demonic antennae glowing with a faint purple light, and her amber eyes also shimmering with a strange brilliance.

I can help you become stronger.

The silver-armored mantis stared intently at Youmi, its body suddenly tensing and its gaze burning.

"Coo-choo~"

Yumi's lips curled slightly, and her slender tail swayed back and forth.

But becoming stronger comes at a price; you need to pay me.
Youmi's eyes darted around several times, then suddenly lit up, and her childish voice rang out: "Coo-choo!"

You need to pay me for a batch of delicious pet food~
Recalling the pet food that Runrun Duck was holding in its arms, Youmi secretly swallowed her saliva, unable to forget that special delicious aroma for a long time.

Upon hearing Yumi's request, the Silver Mantis froze on the spot, blinking rapidly.

Pet food?

Is this the price of becoming stronger?

Stone, noticing the interaction between the two pets, scratched his head in confusion and then looked to Chen Yuan for help: "Advisor Chen, what kind of creature is this Youmi?"

Chen Yuan coughed lightly, grabbed Youmi's tail, and pulled it back: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. This little guy loves to play pranks. Don't take what it says seriously."

At the same moment, upon touching Youmi, a cold, robotic system notification sounded:

[First time collecting Youmi, Source Points increased by 5]

Race: Yumi (Collected)

Attribute: Dark

Level: 16 (Tier 2)

Favorability: 21
Skill: Shadow Stealth (Proficiency 2.1/5) +
Mischievous Heart (Mastery 1.2/7) +
Shadow Strike (Proficiency 1.3/5) +
Quality: Leadership

[Morning Star Quality Requirements: Insufficient Source Points]

Upon seeing Youmi's data panel, Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself, "This is an unexpected delight."

Previously, Chen Yuan was unsure of Youmi's true feelings towards him, so he hadn't touched the little guy. He didn't expect to encounter her now, which brought him another source of fresh source points.

With a level two strength and mastery of three skills, his theoretical strength is barely acceptable.

【Shadow Stealth】is actually a skill that helps Yumi steal food. It allows it to hide in various shadows, making it a very good way to escape.

【Shadow Strike】is a surprise attack launched from the shadows, making it impossible for the opponent to defend against. The Nightmare Shadow Cat that Chen Yuan once encountered was proficient in this skill, causing some trouble for the local security.

As for [Mischievous Heart], it is a very special and rare dark-type skill.

This skill's effect is that if you can successfully frighten, provoke, or cause a huge emotional fluctuation in your opponent through pranks, you can temporarily increase your strength.

Yumi's skill is at the master level, and she has obviously played many tricks on other creatures.

Chen Yuan withdrew his gaze and began to answer Shi Tou's earlier question about Tie Touwa: "I just brought it out to see the world and get familiar with the outside environment. It won't participate in the Donghuang Conference."

Stone fell silent for a moment, looking at the steel-headed mole's steady and powerful back, his heart filled with indescribable shock and burning fighting spirit.

With such a powerful pet, Advisor Chen doesn't plan to bring it to the Eastern Glory Conference; perhaps it would be better to...
It would be better to challenge it, even if it's just to exchange a single blow.
This thought grew wildly and uncontrollably in his mind like weeds. His gaze quickly became intense as he looked at Chen Yuan, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Chen Yuan seemed to be able to see through his thoughts, and before he could speak, he casually uttered three words: "No fighting, inconvenient, no time."

Stone:"."

All the words he wanted to say were instantly swallowed back. He awkwardly touched his nose and had no choice but to suppress his surging fighting spirit for the time being and focus on leading the way.

The two ventured a little further when suddenly a series of intense energy collisions, the howls of pets, and shouts of humans came from directly ahead.

Stone listened intently and immediately became excited: "It's Master's voice, and the Azure Hound! It must be them! Advisor Chen, they're just ahead!"

The two immediately quickened their pace, and Tie Touwa also slightly increased his pace, the steel blade in front of him gleaming coldly, ready to provide support at any time.

After rounding a bend, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a scene of battle.

Huo Hong and Amei were seen leaning against a rock wall, directing their respective pets to fight against another, even more ferocious, armored rhinoceros.

The battle had clearly been going on for some time; sweat beaded on Huo Hong's forehead, and Amei's face was somewhat pale, but her eyes remained focused.

Despite bearing some scratches, the Azure Hound still nimbly weaved through the gaps in the Steel Armored Rhinoceros's attacks.

The lark circled in the air, emitting disruptive wind blades, but these had little effect on the steel-armored rhinoceros, which was covered in hard, heavy armor.

This armored rhinoceros was larger than the previous one, and its aura was more ferocious and terrifying. Every charge and tail swing was powerful and heavy, like a heavy tank, putting Huo Hong and Amei in grave danger.

Fortunately, Huo Hong was an excellent beast tamer who almost made it to the finals of the Great Wind Cup. He remained calm and focused in the face of the powerful Steel Armored Rhinoceros, his eyes darting around as he searched for the Rhinoceros's weaknesses in the struggle.

"Detour to the left, then use the Green Vine Binding Technique." Huo Hong's eyes narrowed, and he quickly seized an opportunity, an idea forming in his mind.

The Azure Hound understood immediately, its body moving like a blue gust of wind, narrowly avoiding a fierce charge from the Armored Rhinoceros, and instantly circling to its left.

At the same time, it suddenly flicked its fluffy, fern-like tail.

Bind with green vines!
Two energy vines, shimmering with emerald light, shot out from the tip of its tail in an instant, wrapping around the armored rhinoceros's thick hind legs and one forelimb with precision and speed, like nimble snakes.

"Roar!!!"

The armored rhinoceros roared angrily and struggled, but the vines were exceptionally tough, tightly restricting its movements.

The more the armored rhinoceros struggled, the more resilient and unshakeable its two vines became.

"Now!" Huo Hong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he waved his hand.

Without pausing, the Azure Hound pounced forward, opening its mouth to condense a highly compressed, vibrant emerald-green energy ball, which it then violently ejected at the vital spot on the Steel Armored Rhinoceros's chest exposed by its struggle.

Naturally burst open!

boom! ! !
The emerald green orb slammed into the chest armor of the steel-armored rhinoceros, unleashing a deafening roar and a powerful energy surge. The intense light even briefly illuminated the entire cave.

"Roar"

The next moment, the armored rhinoceros, which had been fighting the Azure Mist Hound for a long time, finally let out a painful and unwilling howl. Its huge body swayed and fell backward heavily like a collapsing mountain, finally crashing to the ground with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust, and completely losing consciousness.

Seeing the Armored Rhino lying motionless on the ground, Huo Hong breathed a deep sigh of relief. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and his tense nerves finally relaxed: "This guy is really troublesome."

Although his Azure Hound was quite strong, as a wood-type pet, its offensive power was naturally weaker than other pets, making it difficult to break through the Steel-Armored Rhinoceros's super strong defense, forcing him to fight fiercely for a long time.

Fortunately, after a long and fierce battle, they finally defeated it.

"Master, let's hurry and go find our junior brother!" Amei exclaimed urgently.

"Okay!" Huo Hong maintained his composure and nodded quickly. "You lead the way, let's hurry."

Given their current strength, the Silver Mantis is no match for the other Steel Rhinoceros. They must come to the rescue immediately, otherwise Stone is in grave danger.

Just then, Stone's familiar loud voice, filled with boundless excitement, came from not far away:
"Master, Senior Sister! Guess who I ran into?"

Huo Hong and Amei turned their heads at the same time upon hearing the sound. When their surprised gazes swept over the excited stone and they saw the young man standing quietly in the light and shadow at the cave entrance with a gentle smile, both of them showed a complex expression of surprise and realization.

"Advisor Chen?" Huo Hong exclaimed, then a delighted smile spread across his face. "You've come to the rescue again?"

(End of this chapter)